The FCC has issued a Notice of Apparent Liability against Viacom, ESPN, and NBCUniversal for using the Emergency Alert signal during commercials for the film Olympus Has Fallen. Federal law forbides using real or simulated EAS signals except in an actual emergency situation. The networks face a combined total of nearly $2 million in fines.

Last November, the FCC took enforcement actions against Turner Broadcasting and a Kentucky tv station for misuse of the EAS signals. In both cases, the signals were used during commercials. The agency also issued an advisory on proper and improper uses of EAS signals.